A GREENOCK man has been convicted of wasting police time by claiming he was threatened with a gun just weeks after a fatal shooting in the town.

Brian Meechan admitted the offence at the sheriff court on Tuesday, having been charged with 'temporarily depriving the public of the services' of police officers who were forced to investigate his false report.

The 51-year-old attended the Rue End Street police HQ - having ingested illicit drugs - and fabricated a story about being the victim of a drive-by shooting near the Larkfield address where local dad Neil Canney was gunned down on his doorstep early last year.

Prosecutor Ashley Pollock told this week's hearing that Meechan, who lives on Cumberland Road, turned up at the station in the afternoon of March 25, 2023 reporting that he had been threatened on two occasions.

The procurator fiscal depute said: "Police witnesses attended to speak to him and he reported that in the first instance a blue vehicle passed him on Cumberland Road and a male passenger waved a handgun at him.

"He also claimed that the same car passed him again and the man fired two shots at him from inside the vehicle."

The constables reported the alleged incidents to the criminal investigation department (CID) and two senior officers spoke with Meechan.

The fiscal depute added that the officers asked him if it had happened, as a major investigation would be launched if it was true.

Meechan confessed that he had made up the story, and he told them he only attended the office as he wanted a house move and 'thought this was a good way to get a crime number'.

Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said Meechan's false report was 'a somewhat grandiose move to get a new house'.

Mr Keenan told the court Meechan's decision on the day was influenced by the fact that he had taken street valium, and the solicitor added: "He was under the influence and his perception was this might be the way to get that move.

"In the cold light of day he realises that was ridiculous.

"He came clean less than two hours later and CID already suspected this was not true.

"The period of time the police were involved was relatively short."

The lawyer said Meechan 'has been out of trouble for 12 years' and is 'determined not to repeat this type of behaviour and to improve his situation'.

He has since joined a local rehab programme.

Sheriff Clair McLachlan deferred sentence for six months for Meechan, who has previous convictions, to be of good behaviour and to complete his rehab course. He is due to return to court on July 3.